Want Pre500 tone? Here's how to get it!

  • Thread starter Thread starter TheMagicEight
  • Start date Start date
Hi, I'm pretty new at this forum and finding this thread makes me excited. I would like to get the pre500 sound but those amps sell at incredibly high prices and there are almost no chances to find them in Europe! Did you have the chance to compare the sound of your modded amp with an original pre500? How close does it come? Is the modded amp any good for playing solos?
 
Revi San":1wg721bf said:
Hi, I'm pretty new at this forum and finding this thread makes me excited. I would like to get the pre500 sound but those amps sell at incredibly high prices and there are almost no chances to find them in Europe! Did you have the chance to compare the sound of your modded amp with an original pre500? How close does it come? Is the modded amp any good for playing solos?
I'd love to do a test like that, but I don't have an actual pre 500 (otherwise I certainly would have!). However, it's such an easy mod that - especially if you already have a Rectifier - that I'd say just try it and decide if you like it or not. From everything I can tell in clips vs. in person, it's spot on.

Soloing is much easier for me with the mod, but although it's much improved from stock, I'd really still take a SLO for leads. Rhythm, on the other hand, is crushing!
 
TheMagicEight":187mvjjh said:
Revi San":187mvjjh said:
Hi, I'm pretty new at this forum and finding this thread makes me excited. I would like to get the pre500 sound but those amps sell at incredibly high prices and there are almost no chances to find them in Europe! Did you have the chance to compare the sound of your modded amp with an original pre500? How close does it come? Is the modded amp any good for playing solos?
I'd love to do a test like that, but I don't have an actual pre 500 (otherwise I certainly would have!). However, it's such an easy mod that - especially if you already have a Rectifier - that I'd say just try it and decide if you like it or not. From everything I can tell in clips vs. in person, it's spot on.

Soloing is much easier for me with the mod, but although it's much improved from stock, I'd really still take a SLO for leads. Rhythm, on the other hand, is crushing!

Throw a boost in front and soloing is awesome! I have #635 with the Mark 3 trannies, etc, and like you said the rhythm tone is absolutely crushing. I put a boost in front for solos and it's really, really great. I also have a SLO and 101b, and the Mesa easily hangs with them as far as killer tone goes. For some stuff, I really prefer the Recto over both of those other amps.
 
Figured I'd update this thread, Here is a full rundown on what I've done to my amp so far:

Remove R277 and install a jumper.


Remove R272 and install a jumper.


Remove R271 and install a jumper.


Remove R110 (680k) and replace with a 470k, remove R322 and C10 (both which are behind that red cap.


Clip and jump LDR 4, just cut the leads as close as you can to the body of the LDR and just solder the leads together on both sides.


This includes changing both gain pots to 1 meg and changing the cap at C55 from .10uf to .0047uf.
Doing this will boost your high gain tones significantly, but will however turn your clean channel into a LOUD overdrive channel. It will also clear up that fizz that you are talking about.

I however rarely use cleans so this was right up my alley.
However, use caution while desoldering/soldering in these tight areas, these traces can lift if you use too much heat with your iron.
If you don't have an adjustable soldering station use a 15-25w iron, or keep your soldering station at 650-700F.
 
TheMagicEight":dvk9pvab said:
Was just playing around when I recorded this earlier, but here's a clip of my Explorer (currently downtuned) with an EMG 81 through the same setup. I turned the gain up to about 1:00, I think.

Explorer (just guitar)

:rock:

Edit:
Just came to my attention that I'm not playing that correctly. Sorry!
Amon Amarth :rock:
 
Back
Top